Automatic feed for acetylene-gas generators



v 0. J. WARMAN.

AUTOMATIC FEED FOR ACETYLENE GAS GENERATORS. APPLICATION FILED APR 24. 1920.

1,%36,1%8. Patented Nov. 21, 1922.

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Y Z 0 gvwe'nfoz Wm JV/W 0. J. WARMAN. AUTOMATIC FEED FOR ACETYLENE GAS GENERATORS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 24. T920.

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ORA J. WARMAN, OF ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO, ASSIGNO B, OF ONE-HALF TO BEN H.

' BASSETT, OF ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO.

auroiaa'rro FEED roa ACETYLENE-GAS onmn'a'rons.

Application filed April 24,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ORA J. citizen of the United States, well, in the county of Chaves and State of New Mexico, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Feeds WARMAN, a

. for Acetylene-Gas Generators, of which the tomatic feed hopper for acetylene gas genfollowing is a specification,

reference being hadtp the accompanying drawings.

ThlS invention relates toan improved auerators, and an object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind which is safe in every respect and automatic in operation.

Another object is to provide'an automatic feed hopper for the carbide provided with a valve for automatically controlling the carbide feed, said hopper including a pressure chamber and diaphragm connected to the valve so that according to the pressure in said pressure chamber, the valve/is in t urn automtically controlled so as to regulate the feed of the carbide into the generator.

Another object is to provide elastic .diaphragm having novel means of connection with the stem of the control valve so that the valve is automatically controlled according to the pressure in the pressure chamber.

Still another object is to provide a valve cage or crow foot connection with'a sleeve having a seat for the valve so as to prevent the carbide from lodging or choking the valve opening thereby always insuring a steady flow of carbide subject to the action of the valve.

\ A further object resides in a novel construction of valve seat sleeve having means consisting of passages to permit of the passage of gas into the hopper and thence into the pressure chamber, for the purpose of acting upon the diaphragm for automaticallycontrolling the valve.

While the design and construction at present illustrated and set forth is deemed preferable, it is obvious that as a result of a reduction of the invention to a more practical form for commercial'purposes, the invention may be susceptible to changes, and the right to these changes is claimed, provided they are comprehended within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, as will be herein,- after set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

residing at Ros- 1920. Serial in. 376,302.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the upper part of an acetylene gas generator showing the improved automatic feed-hopper applied and shown in section;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the automatic feed hopper at right angles to that shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 1 through the connection between the lower end of the feed hopper and the casing of the generator, thereby showing the plurality of passages to permit the gas to pass into the feed hopper, whereby it may thezin pass into the pressure chamber above, an

Figure 4is a horizontal sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 1 through the pressure chamber above the diaphragm showing the location of the by-pass pipe between the hopper and the pressure chamber with respect to the means for opening the valve to start the generator.

' Referring more especially to the drawings, 1 designates a conventional form of acetylene gas generator tank, which has a conventional form of safety valve 2, a filling spout 3 and 4-denotes a casing adjacent the generator tank for the reception of water, as indicated. The casing has a filling spout 5 and a hose connection 6 which has a valve 7 for controlling the discharge of gas from the chamber 8 above the water in the casing 4. The tank 1 has an extension pipe 9 which carries the safety valve 2 and connecting the pipe 9 and the casing 4 is a pipe 10 for the purpose of carrying the generated gas into the chamber 8. This pipe 10 is connected to the bottom of the casing 4 so that the gas passing into the chamber -8 will be thoroughly cleansed or filtered by passing through the body of water in the casing 4. A check Valve 11 is carried by the lower part of the pipe 10 for preventin passage of water through the pipe 10. T e upper casing 20 is provided and it has its lower end provided with an annular flange 21. The casing 20 and the flan e 21 ma be otherwise constructed to t at whic is shown; The flange 21"is bolted to the ring 18 by said bolts 19, there being a vibrating diaphragm 22 bolted-between the flanges 21.

and 18. This vibr'ating'diaphr maybe constructed of any suitable elastic materialsuch as rubber or'other expansible or yieldable material. The space above the dia-' phragm constitutes a pressure chamber 23. Connected to the collar 17 is a tubular guide 25. The lower end of this tubular guide terminates in a plurality of depending arms 26, all of which combined may be termed a crow foot? Thesearms26 are integrally connected to a sleeve 27, which is mountedin the extension or contracted neck '15. This sleeve 27 at intervals thereabout is provided with passages 28 which permit the as from the generator to pass into the car ide receiving chamber 29 of the hopper; This sleeve 27 has a valve seat 30, with which the conicalvalve 31 cooperates. The valve 31 is connected to the valve stem 33 which is mounted in the tubular guide 25. The up or end of the valve stem passes through the iaphragm and is provided with upper and lower clamping plates 34 and 35, there'being suitable clamping nuts 36 and 37 for holding the plates 34 and 35 in place as well as connectmg the valve stem securely to the diaphragm so that when the diaphragm moves upwardly the valve will close and when the diaphragm is depressed downwardly, the valve 31 will open. A coil spring 38 is interposed between the countersunk spider and one of the plates of the dia liragm. This spring acts against one of the c amping plates of the diaphragm for the purpose of closing the valve 31.

A by-pass pipe 39 is connected at 40. to the pressure chamber casing and is in turn connected at 41 to the upper end W8,ll' 0f the automatic feed hopper, there bein a valve 42in said pipe 39 for the contro of the gas from the hopper to the pressure chamber.

Mounted in bearings 43 ofthe pressure chamber casing is a rock-shaft or rod 44 havinga crank 45 at one end and an arm 7 46 adjacent its central portion adapted to act upon the upper end of the valve stem, for opening the valve in order to start the generator.

'veyed from the tank to The various parts of the automatic feed hopper maybe constructed of any suitable metal, certain parts of which may be constructed of. steel or cast metal, preferably cast aluminum. By means of the ependin arms 26 or the crow foot at the lower on of the tubular guide, the valve stem is protected from excessive frictional contact with the carbide. The design of this invention is to provide an automatic feed hopper adapted to regulate within one pound pressure. 7

By means of the rockin rod or shaft 44,

the automatic hopper fee vand the generaso tor may be starte by simply rotatingthe crank of the shaft causing the arm 46 to bear upon the upperend of the stem 33 and opent e valve.

' 'In the operation the rocking rod or shaft 44 is first actuated, whereby the arm 46 may bear against the upper end of the valve stem, unseatin the valve 30. By this operation the car ide will enter the generator tank and the gaswillbe generated in the tank in the usual manner and may be convarious locations for-necessar use. Gas from .the tank will pass throug the passages .28 and percolate through the carbide in the feed hopper and by opening the valve 42 gas will be permitted to enter the pressure chamber 23 by 'way of the bypass pipe 39. The pressure in the pressure, chamber is designed to be constant, and at. times the pressure in the feed hopper equals the pressure in the pressure chamber. 'The valve 42'is closed upon the attaining of the required pressure in the chamber above the diaphragm. The valve 30 is designed to open sufficiently to permit a requisite supply of carbide .to enter the tank. As the gas in the tank is excessively drawn ofl, thereby decreasing the gas in the generator and hopper below the diaphragm, it leaves the constant pressure in the pressure chamber 23 sli htly relatively greater, and causes. the carbi e feed valve to open, allowing a supply of carbide to enter the tank and thereby increase the generation of gas.

,As the gas in the tank is being generated and when it is drawn off in required amounts, the gas slightly decreases in the hopper below the diaphragm. This'result necessarily causes a constant pressure in the pressure chamber which at times is equaled by the pressure in the hopper below the diap ragm. As it is the aim to maintain the pressure in the generator below the diaphragm substantially one pound pressure less than the pressure in the pressure chamber, the pressure below the diaphragm will substantially equal the pressure above the I diaphragm. When the gas decreases in the generator and the-pressure above the diaphragm remains constant and consequently [slightly greater than the pressure below the sure in the pressure chamber. Furthermore,

there cannot be at any time a greater pressure generated in the generator below the diaphragm than the pressurein the pressure chamber, thereby providing an acetylene gas generator whlch has been found safe and fool proof. When the valve 31 is closed the passages 28 remain open so as to per: mit a supply of gas to enter the. chamber below the dlaphragm, in order to substantially equal the: pressure in the pressure chamber so that the automatically.

The invention having been set forth, what isclaimed as new and useful is: 1. In an automatic feed hopper for acetylene gas generators, a gas generator tank, a feed hopper having a communicative connection with said tank, said connection including a valve seat, a valve cooperating with said seat to control the How of carbide from the hopper to the tank, said hopper having a pressure chamber casing mounted thereon, a communlcative connection between said pressure chamber and the hopper, an elastic diaphragm between the pressure chamber and the feedhopper to be acted dis rectly upon bythe pressure both in the hopper and in the pressure chamber, said diaphragm beingconnected. with the valve, and

tens1oning means belowthe diaphragm acting to normally close said valve.

2. Inan automaticfeed hopper for acetylene gas generators, a gas tank, a feed hopper having communicative connection with said tank and provided with a pressure chamber, an elastic dia hragm between the pressure chamber and cod hopper, a valve operatively connected to said diaphragm for controlling said connection, said connection including gas passages between the -tank\ and the hopper, a communicative connection between the pressure chamber and the hopper, said diaphram adapted to beacted directly upon by the pressure in. both the hopper and said pressure chamber.

3. In an automatic 'feed hopper for an acetylene gas tank, a hopper connected to said tank, a valve controlling the carbide from the hopper through said connection, a pressure chamber, an elastic diaphragm in the lower part of the pressure chamber andconnectedto the valve, the connection between the hopper and the tank-having gas passages to permit gases from the tankto pass into the hopper, means'for permitting the gas from the hopper to enter the pressure generator can operate for starting the generator, sa1d elastlc diaand'the hopper, whereby t chamber, and tensioning means cooperating with the diaphragm to hold the valve seated, said elastic diaphragm being between the hopper and the pressure chamber to be acted directly upon by the pressure in both the hopper and the pressure chamber.

4:. In an automatic feed hopper for an acetylene gas tank, a hopperconnected to said tank, a valve controlling the carbidefrom the hopper through the connection, a pressure chamber, an elastic diaphragm in the lower part of the pressure chamber and con nected tothe valve, the connection between the hopper and the tank having gas passages to permit gas from the tank to pass into the hopper, means for permitting the gas from the hopper to enter the pressure chamber, and tens1oning means cooperating with the diaphragm to hold the valve seated,

and manual means for actuating the valve phragm belngbetween the hopper and the pressure chamberto be acted directly upon by the pressure in both pressure chamber.

generator tank, a .feed hopper for carbide mounted on and connected communications between the tank and the hopper, a valve seat and valve for controlling the carbide from the hopper to the tank, an elastic diaphragm connected to the valve and located between the ressure chamber e pressure of gas in. the pressure chamber and the pressure in the hopper may act directly upon the diaphragm to operate the valve,

the hopper and the 9o 5. In a device as set forth, an acetyleneto the tank, gasand tensioning means' acting direct upon the elastic diaphragm when they .pressure of gas in the pressure chamber is decreased to close the valve.

6. In a' device as set forth, an acetylene generator tank, a feed hopper for carbide mounted on and connected to the tank, gas communications between thejtank and the hopper, a valve seat and valve for controlling the carbide from the hopper to the tank, an elastic diaphragm connected to the valve and located between the ressure chamber and the hopper, whereby t e pressure of gas in the pressure chamber and the pressure in the hopper may act directly upon the diaphragm to oscillate the valve,

and tensioning means acting direct upon the.

elastic diaphragm when the pressure of gas in the pressure chamber is decreased to close the valve, a connection between the hop er and the, gas pressure chamber, said va ve having a stem, a guide for the stem, the lower end of the gu de having means to prevent the carbide from choking in the connection between the hopper and the tank.

In testimony whereof hereunto aflix my signature.

" ORA J. wARMA v, 

